Read it here!

https://linktr.ee/retrotorrents

For the longest time we have wondered one thing with ROM sites, why don’t they use torrents? Is is that difficult?

“Hosting torrents is a total PITA. It’s not worth it” - ████

So, we did some research around them and file formats that emulators use like CHD, RVZ and WUX for a few months and may have found a way to preserve retro video games efficiently and perfectly. But truth be told, we don’t know if this idea is perfect or has something missing.

We have looked a bit about shadow libraries, but that will come when the site would be ready to deploy.

Currently, we are just experimenting the data with this, since it’s free for testing.

Overall, we thought that the wake-up call on video game preservation should start sooner, rather than later. Also, thanks for reading this far!

  • Ephraim@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
    1·
    3 months ago

    I appreciate the enthusiasm Lindene! In fact, someone in SimpleX suggested IPFS to me a few months back.

    It sounds crazy good, there is a lot of good things to say about it, however, unless IPFS becomes mainstream as ThePirateBay made BitTorrent mainstream in the 2000s, there is a low chance a mass audience will adopt a tool that currently requires reading a long manual just to download a video game.

    BitTorrent is not perfect, but the fact that a website uses the same file sharing protocol since 2004 says something.

    IPFS is a total PITA. It’s not worth it.